Chapter 3: Homeopathy in the News - An Article Critique

     In an article posted on the 17th of August, 2015 in The Huffington Post titled "The FDA and Homeopathy: Can the Agency Bring Medicine Out of the 1700s?", Ronald Lindsay illustrates how a lack of oversight by the FDA and unenforced regulations allow homeopathic drugs to market themselves as being as effective as other medications with little to no repercussions. It should be noted that unlike the majority of articles from mainstream media sources regarding homeopathy, the author does not shy away from the lack of evidence surrounding homeopathy. Most media sources would typically offer some type of vague anecdotal evidence in support of homeopathy so as not to alienate a percentage of its viewers as well as giving the false pretense of journalistic integrity by claiming to give both sides of an issue equal consideration.

     Initially, the concept of equal representation to both sides of an argument sounds like a fair and balanced manner with which to approach an idea as complicated as the efficacy of an alternative medical system, however, the problem with equal representation to both sides comes when one of the sides has been demonstrated time and time again to be false or comprised of an invalid argument. Placing a demonstrably false idea on an equal plane with a valid idea serves to reinforce faulty thinking and misconceptions which, especially regarding medical-oriented ideas, have the potential to cause serious harm. 

     While the article is factually correct in it's position regarding homeopathy, the overall tone of the article is dismissive and condescending. The tone may prevent the information in the article from reaching the audience that needs it most- those who take homeopathic drugs. When deeply-held beliefs are challenged, it is natural for people to become defensive and dismissive of all incoming arguments that do not conform with already held biases, which is why the most effective arguments are not only clear and concise but also informative, as opposed to aggressive in tone. While potentially true, statements such as, "The level of ignorance among Americans with respect to basic science is appalling" only hurts the overall persuasive components of the article. 

Original Article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ronald-a-lindsay/homeopathy_b_7997876.html